Mold for casting stereotype plates



w. F. HUcK 2,047,103

MOLD FOR CASTING STEREOTYPE PLATES' Filed Feb. 18, 1932 2 sheets-sheet lJuly 7, 1936.,

July 7, 1936. W. HUCK 2,047,103

MOLD FOR CASTING STEREOTYPE PLATES Filed Feb. 18, 1932 2 Sheetsi-Sheet 2ggf/ g nvrwof-eINNO Patented July 7, 1936 smear ori-*lcs MOLD FORCASTING STEREOTYPE PLATES William F. Huck, Richmond Hill, N. Y.,assignor to R. Hoe & Co., Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation ofNewYork; Irving Trust Company,

permanent trustee Applieationrebruary 18, 1932K, serial No. 593,771

Claims.

This invention relates in general to molds for casting stereotypeprinting plates and is directed to certaindesired improvements over thedevice disclosed in application of Robert T. Edwards, filed Nov. 18,1931, Serial No. 575,769.1

The object ofthe invention is to provide a, double at casting mold ofthe general type above-indicated with improved means for convenientlylocking either movable side of a double casting mold for operativelysecuring Same to a coactng fixed mold member as one or the other isswung into position for casting a plate.

Another object is to provide a stereotype mold of the characterindicated with improved means for adjusting same to cast plates ofdifferent thickness.

Another object is to provide a novel stereotype plate casting moldhaving two casting chambers that may be engaged alternately by balancedmovable means adjusted for conveniently casting plates of differentthickness.v

A considerable saving of time is'effected by using a mold of the typeherein indiatedafter a plate is cast and while the metalis hardening,since the operator may in the interim'sprepare a second mold for thenext casting operation. After this preparatory work is completed,"thesecond mold is closed and Vsimultaneously therewith the first mold isopened. In this manner one operator may castpractically twice the numberof plates inl a given interim of time that is possible to cast withconventional stereotype molds. The movable mold members are soconnected, as will hereinafter appear, that the `centre. point of alinejoining their centres of gravity will move ina substantiallyhorizontal line.

' It was also found to be highly desirable in practice to have themovable mold members positioned at a height from the floor best suitedfor the operators convenience. In prior constructions the fulcrum onwhich the oscillating ormovable molds were mounted, was positionedeither too closel or too far above the floor, which in either case wasinconvenient for the operator. Furthermore, the prior constructiondescribed in the above-referred application of Edwards was in a state ofequilibrium only when one of the coacting and movable casting plates waspositioned at right angles and the other in parallelism respectively tothe fixed mold-casting member. This necessitated the employment ofsprings or equivalent lmeans as shock absorbers to cushion the. heavymovablemembers which descend with con'- siderable force and increasingmomentum, to the normalpositions shown in Figure 1. The presentconstruction affords a balanced, movable stereotype plate-castingassembly in all positions and may be handled and swung with comparativeease by the operator.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a mold for castingprinting plates of generally improved construction, whereby the devicewill be simple, durable and inexpensive in construction, as well asconvenient, practical, serviceable andeflcient in its use.

In the drawings:

' Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an embodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional View as seen on the line of the arrow2 of Figure l; and

Figure 3 is a vertical elevational view looking in the direction of thearrow 3 of the Figure l; and

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view of parts directlyengaged in the casting of a printing plate.

In the drawings wherein similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in the several figures of the preferred form of theinvention, 4 designates a mold-supporting frame including the sidemember 5, 6 held in spaced relationfby cross members 1, to which adouble-faced mold-casting member 8 is fixedly secured in any suitablemanner as by screws 9, I0. The fixed mold-casting member 8 is providedwith casting surfaces on either side thereof and also with means forself-cooling which is accomplished by ycirculating fluid in the jacketsor pockets II.

Means connected to the frame are provided for adjustably supportingthereon an assembly including a pair of movable mold-casting members I2,I3, so that same may be swung or rocked in order to bring either facethereof in juxtaposition ywith the iixed mold-casting member 8, whilethe other face is simultaneously returned to position for preparinganother mold. The said means in- Vcludesshaft I4, I5 secured to theframe and 'serving as fulcrums or pivots for'the movable mold-castingmembers I2, I3 which latter include `similar side members or arms I6,I'I having an joiset portion or projection I 8, between which shafts 2l,22 secured to the members I2 and I3 respectively are arranged. Theshafts 2|, 22 are connected by links or members 23 which coactingly andbalancingly connect the two movable mold-casting members I2, I3 for theimportant functions hereinafter recited including the maintaining of astate of equilibrium or balance for the movable mold members in allpositions.

Each of the movable members I2, I3 includes an adjustable cover member24 having a frame suitably reinforced, the outer surface of the saidcover member 24 forming one of the walls of the casting chamberhereinafter described. The said cover members 24 are adjustablysupported by T- bolts 25 secured in cross members or bars 26, 21, theends of which latter are secured to the arms or side members I6, I1. Thecross members are received in slots 29 formed in extensions or hubs 29,3I of the movable member. The reduced ends of the T-bolts 25 arerotatably secured in small sockets 32 fastened to the inner side of thecover members 24, whereby when the T-bolts are turned, the cover membersmay be adjusted towards and away from the respective cross members 26,21 in order to cast in conjunction with a matrix B a printing orstereotype plate 29 shown in section in Figures 2 and 4. As the covermembers 24 move outwardly or inwardly, the cross members 26, 21 whichare positioned in the slots 28 mentioned above, will serve as stops tolimit the degree of movement of the said cover members.

The chambers for casting theprinting plates are formed by the spacebetween one of the adjacent faces of the fixed mold-casting member 8 anda cover member or plate 24 of one of the movable mold-members I2, I3.The bottom and sides of the casting chambers are formed by the customarygauges indicated generally at 33 located at the bottom and sides of thecasting chambers when same is ready for receiving molten metal as shownin Figure 2.

The body portion 33' of each of the gauges 33 is cutaway or shoulderedas at 34 and notched as at 35 to accommodate an extension 36 on aslotted T-shaped arm 31. The extension 36 is provided with a lip orprojection 38 slidably received in the notch 35 which latter togetherwith the shouldered portion 34, it is understood, preferably extends theentire length of the gauge in order to permit the said gauge to be slidor moved relatively to the arm 31, and is also formed with a slot 39positioned angularly relatively to the edge of the extension 36. Theslot 39 is adapted to slidably and removably receive a stud or head 40fastened to a screw' 4I secured to the body portion 33' of the gauges33, it being observed that an accurate adjustment of the gauges 33 isafforded by sliding the studs or heads 40 in the slots 39, thus shiftingthe body portion 33 of the said gauges 33. It will be further noted thatwhen the gauge 33 is slid, the diagonally positioned slot 39 in coactionwith the pin 40 will serve to withdraw the lip 38 from or project sameinto the notch 35, in this manner conveniently permitting the removal ofthe gauge from the arm 31 and also adapting the device to accommodategauges of various widths or sizes.

As best shown in Figure 2, each of the arms 31 has a slot 31 slidablyreceiving a screw 42 which is engaged with a hinge composed of a plateor bracket 43 pivotally connected to a second plate or bracket 44fastened to the cover member 24. A wing nut 45 after the desiredadjustment of the gauge 33 is made serves to conveniently clamp the arm31 on which the gauge 33 is fastened to the movable plate 43 and thus tomaintain the said gauge in the operative position desired for casting aprinting plate. A spring 46 connected to both hinge plates 43, 44normally maintains a pressure on plate 43 thus retaining the gauge 33resiliently or yieldingly in the operative position best shown in Figure4, it being noted that an end or extremity of the matrix B is receivedunywill be grasped and as the former or vertically der a shoulderedportion 41 of the body portion 33 of the gauge 33. It will now beapparent that the gauges 33 may be conveniently adjusted and held inoperative position by means of the slotted arms 31, the angularlypositioned slot 39 and co- 5 acting elements to cast plates of variouswidths and that such adjustment may be effected by the comparativelysimple means employed. When desired, the gauge 33 may, by means of thepin 40 and slot 39, as indicated above, be immediately 10 detached fromand conveniently replaced on the adjacent movable mold member, after thelatter has been swung away from the fixed mold member.

To leek the members l2, la in the alternate 15 operative positions bestshown in Figure 1, a cam 50 is fastened to a stud or shaft 48 rotatablysecured in the fixed mold-casting member and having an operating lever49 fastened thereon. The cam 41 is formed with a pair of arcuate groovesor notches 5I, 52 which are adapted to engage alternately pins 53, 54fastened respectively to the movable members I2 and I3. By inspection ofFigure 1 it will be seen that either of the movable mold-casting memberscan be 25 locked in operative position shown by swinging the operatinglever 49 to the left or right to ngage the notches 5I, 52 with the pins53, 54. Each of the movable casting members I2, I3 is provided at oneend with a sloping channel or passageway 55, communicating with thecasting chamber for the reception of molten metal when the movablemember is in vertical position. To swing either of the movable members,I2, I3 into the desired position for casting or preparing a plate, apair of similar handles 56 suitably secured to each of the said movablemembers and best shown in Figure 3 are provided.

The function and general manner of operation of the above device hasbeen in large measure indicated from the foregoing description, it beingobserved as pointed out above that while the metal is hardening in thevertically positioned movable mold, the horizontally positioned movablemold may be prepared and ready to be swung against the fixed mold memberto form a casting chamber for the reception of molten metal. As themovable members have been so pivoted and interconnected as tocounterbalance one another, it will be understood that after the handle49 has been manipulated to release the vertically positioned movablemold-member I3 from the fixed mold-member 8, the handles 56 of eitherthe upper or lower movable member positioned mold member descends into ahorizontal position, the other counterbalanced movable mold-castingmember will swing into vertlcal position or alignment against the fixedmember 8. By reason of the mutual balance between the two movablemembers, the effort required to move same is reduced to a minimum whileat the same time the bump orjar which would normally occur without thecounterbalancing principle employed, is avoided.

I am aware that the invention may be embodied in other specific formswithout departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and Itherefore desire the present embodiment to be considered in all respectsas illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appendedclaims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope ofthe invention.

What I claim is:

1. In a device of the kind described. the combination of a fixed moldmember, and a pair of movable mold members coactingly connected theretoand mutually counterbalanced in all positions to which the movable moldmembers may be moved, all points on said movable mold members moving incircular paths about axes fixed relatively to the said fixed moldmember.

2. In a device of the kind described, a frame, a mold member fixed tosaid frame, and two movable mold members coactable with said fixed moldmember for forming casting molds therewith, each of said movable moldmembers being joined to and counterbalanced by the other of said movablemold members in all positions to which the movable mold members may bemoved, all points on said movable mold members swinging in circularpaths about separate axes fixed relatively to the frame.

3. In a device of the kind described, the com-- bination of a frame, amold member fastened to said frame and having Ytwo mold faces and twomovable mold members coactingly pivoted on the frame in counterbalancedrelation in all positions to which the movable mold members may bemoved, all points on said movable mold members moving in circular pathsabout axes xed relatively to the frame.

4. In a device of the kind described, the combination of a frame, afixed mold member and two movable mold members rockingly mounted onpivots xed to said frame, all points on said movable mold members movingin circular paths about axes fixed relatively to the frame, the movablemold members being operatively and counterbalancingly joined to eachother in all positions to which they may be swung by means,V

whereby as one of said movable mold members is moved to operativevertical position for casting, the other of said movable members will bemoved to horizontal position.

5. In a device of the kind described, the combination of a frame, twomovable mold members, all points on said movable mold members moving incircular paths about separate axes fixed relatively to the frame, afixed mold member, and means pivoted to and connecting said movable moldmembers whereby each of said movable mold members will serve to swingand counterbalance in all positions to which the other of said movablemold members may be swung for engagement with and disengagement from thefixed mold member.

6. In a device of the kind described, the combination of a frame, a moldmember xedly secured thereto, a pair of other mold members swingablyconnected to the fixed mold member, al1 points on said last mentionedmold members moving in a circular path about adjacent axes fixedrelatively to the support, and means pivotally joining the lastmentioned said pair of mold 5 members, whereby either of the pair ofmovable mold members will be supported in equilibrium by the other inall positions to which they may be swung.

7. In a device of the character described, a xed mold member, a movablemold member, a gauge, an arm adjustably connected to said gauge,resilient means for maintaining said arm and consequently said gauge inoperative position relatively to the movable mold member, andinstrumentalities arranged on said gauge and said movable mold member toadjust the gauge in two different directions and to remove same from themovable mold member when desired.

8. In a device of the character described having a mold member, thecombination with said mold member, of a gauge, a member securable tosaid gauge, a slot formed in said member, means secured to said gaugeand slidable within said slot for moving the gauge and member relativelyto each other, a second slot formed in the member, means adjustablymounted in said last mentioned slot, and resilient instrumentalitiesconnected to said last mentioned means and coactingly engaged with meanson said mold member.

9. In mechanism of the character described, a frame, a mold memberfixedly secured to the frame, a second mold member movably connected tosaid frame, a gauge swingably connected to the movable mold member andadjustable longitudinally and transversely thereof, instrumentalitiesdetachably connecting the gauge to the movable mold member, and a springadapted to operatively and yieldingly maintain the gauge against themovable mold member.

l0. In a device of the character described, the combination of a fixedmold member, two movable mold members hingedly connected to swing bodilyabout points fixed relatively to the xed mold member, and link meanspivotally connected at one end to an axis xed relatively to one movablemold member and at the other end to an axis fixed relatively to theother` mold member; said axes being remote from the centers of gravityof the movable mold members, and so positioned as to constrain saidmovable mold members to move in unison and inherently in counterbalancedrelation with each other in all positions to which they may be swung.

WILLIAM F. HUCK.

